Stephanie Charbonneau and Donald Stojack have over 12 years experience planning successful choir camps, festivals and tours.
Stephanie is the Executive Director of Exceptional Choral Events, a choral support business she started with her husband, Donald Stojack. As part of her work with Exceptional Choral Events, Stephanie oversees the Fort Worden Children's Choir Festival and Northwest Choir Camps and is the liaison for attendees.
Stephanie Charbonneau, Honor Choir Summer Camp Conductor
Stephanie has extensive experience and training as a choir director of children ages 5 to 18. She has proven herself a creative and inspirational teacher and choral conductor, with former students frequently becoming section leaders of their school choirs, participating in honor choirs, holding lead roles in musicals and going on to major in Music Education, Music Performance and Theater Arts in college.
Stephanie began studying piano and singing in choirs at the age of 3 and now has over 19 years teaching experience. She is a 2002 graduate of Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. She was the Founding Artistic Director of Cappella Choirs of Port Orchard and served in that position for 10 years, from 1998 through 2008. Stephanie is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, MENC, and the Washington State Music Teachers Association. Her choirs have participated in PICCFEST, the Pacific Rim Children's Chorus Festival and the Manhattan Concert Productions Festival at Carnegie Hall. Stephanie is currently director of Good News Group and accompanist of Bel Canto at First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue in WA. Stephanie maintains an active studio of private voice and piano students.
Donald Stojack, Honor Choir Summer Camp Assistant Conductor
Donald has 33 years of experience as a professional musician, choir director, and music teacher. He was the founding director of the Prestant Boys Chorus of Port Orchard and served as their director until 2008. He also served as the director of the Port Orchard Community Chorale from 1997 to 2003. Donald graduated in 1982 from Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. He maintains a private teaching studio for piano, clarinet and alto saxophone students. Donald is a regular accompanist and substitute director at First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue. Donald is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and the Washington State Music Teachers Association. Donald also builds, restores and relocates pipe organs in association with Frans Bosman of Mosier, Oregon.
Nils Thompson, Honor Choir Summer Camp Accompanist
Nils Thompson is a regular accompanist for choral groups throughout the region. From 2002-2004, Nils served as accompanist for the Prestant Boy Choir of Port Orchard, WA and also assisted as staff accompanist for Cappella Choirs Summer Camps for several years. He has also worked as a church musician throughout his career. Nils earned his associate degree from Olympic College in Bremerton where he toured with the chamber choir to Thailand in 2004. Currently, Nils is a student at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, working on a bachelor degree in education with an emphasis on composition and music therapy. Nils is proud to have earned the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America and as a true northwesterner, he enjoys his coffee.
